It’s exceedingly rare that I can’t put a book down, but Gregory Martin’s extraordinarily honest, heartfelt, brave, and beautifully written memoir held my attention from the first page to the last.
Those of us who have been through the suicide of a loved one can easily forget that an attempted suicide, like a completed suicide, can set in motion unpredictable family upheaval. For Gregory Martin, his father’s attempted suicide resulted in the discovery that his father had led a clandestine gay life throughout his thirty-nine-year marriage. And there are more painful revelations to come.
Martin, who is a married father to two young boys, finds himself catapulted on a journey that one can only describe as wrenching. But as Martin takes you along for his family’s challenging ride, you can’t help but cheer for both Martin and his father as they stumble toward understanding and reconciliation.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it.
2 Responses to A Father Attempts Suicide; A Son Struggles for Answers
Leave a Reply
The Book
About Eric Marcus
Eric Marcus is the author of several books, including Why Suicide?, Is It A Choice?, and Making Gay History. He is also co-author of Breaking the Surface, the #1 New York Times bestselling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. And he currently serves on the national board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (Photo Credit: Dixie Sheridan.)
It is an absolutely amazing book. I fully agree it is worth the read.
My teenage daughter is gay. She did not attempt suicide but she did leave a note. Gregory Martin’s book described the same feelings I had felt myself 4 years ago … dealing with both the suicide (attempt/note) and the revelation that I never saw coming. It’s strange to have someone you don’t know and have never met so completely articulate your own feelings.
I have come to full acceptance of my daughter’s “gayness”, am totally at peace with her life, and thankfully she is no longer suicidal. She is just living her life, and what more can a parent want for their child.